ABSTRACT
Mahroof, Ghulam, and Mohammed headed to their meeting with the plant supervisor, Mr. Wilson. They represented the Muslim workers at Caledonia Industries in discussions with management about allowing Muslim employees to fulfill their obligation to pray while at work. Several supervisors had told Muslim employees that they could not be excused to pray, because that would be a special treatment that other religious and nonreligious employees do not receive. Who wouldn’t like to have a break to pray, meditate, or just collect their thoughts for a few minutes? Management had suggested that Muslim employees simply close their eyes and pray silently, like observant Christians do. Muslim prayer, however, requires each person to wash for purification, face Mecca, and pray on a prayer rug. Then there is the operations management problem. If every Muslim on the assembly line prayed at the same time, production would stop. Every time production stops and starts during a shift, the company loses money. Mahroof knocked on the door of the plant supervisor’s office. Mr. Wilson opened the door and invited them to be seated.
